Genetics

When Reagan was little, really little, we would go to the school across the street and let her slide for hours. For many, MANY hours since then, we have spent time at parks doing just that. I decided to brave the slide with Kade. A little more nerve racking on your own but he absolutely loved it. He wanted to go over and over and when we got ready to leave he was crying, reaching out to the little red friend.

A Special Treat

This past week we were able to meet Mike at Lava Hot Springs for the day/night. We are so lucky that right now we have three great employees that have done excellent work for us. Two of Mike's cousins and a former employee of Fanzz that Mike had previously worked with, and he was happy to be able to come work for Mike. As a result, Mike was able to leave the store and know that it was in good hands!

We spent the day swimming, sunning, and enjoying each other's company. We rented a hotel room there on "main" street in Lava, but believe it or not, it was very nice, the bed was really comfy, and the tub...well you can see how fabulous. Reagan was in HEAVEN...first time in a "hotel" and she pretty much ran on high-speed until she couldn't take it anymore. A much needed 24 hours away for everyone.

August at a Glimpse

This post is a little all over the place. Perfect for our lives right now :) Thought I would include some pictures and outings that have transpired this month. Can you even believe kids are back in school and the weather is (slightly) getting cooler!!!

Two Cool Cats


Fun night in the mountains - we met friends in the canyon on night for a hot dog roast and yummy smores. We enjoyed the weather, throwing rocks in the river, good food, even better company, and it was all brought to an end with a thundering storm as we raced to the cars. Nothing better.



There is nothing sweeter than the love of a cousin.
Bart & Kade

Emmett

Malia (can you tell these three are siblings!)


So begins the dream of a lifetime :) Here are some pictures of "our" new store. Fancy eh?! It looks fantastic and it's been doing pretty good since we opened. When Mike was getting ready to open I told him "just don't get as skinny as you were when we got married!" (of course he weighed several pounds less than I did). Didn't take long to drop numerous pounds already this time around too. Living on yogurt, granola bars, and cereal is quite the diet. If you are ever in Idaho Falls stop in and say hello-he would love the company and I would love the sale :)



There are many types of friends that enter ones life at different stages and for different reasons. Some of those friends you are able to see often and spend time with and others, in the chaos of life, you may not see so often although thought of kindly. However, it's truly about the "friendship" that matters most. We had the opportunity to spend 2 wonderful days catching up with "old" friends that we haven't seen in a while. Jennifer and I have known each other for maybe 14 years. She was just a sweet, shy secretary when I moved down here. Now she is a super mom of 5 sweet kids. Her youngest was born just a few months before Kade. We met at Wheeler Farm and had a few hours of catching up, craziness, and fun.
A few days laters, we met up with the Anderson clan. They lived next door when we bought our house. We would literally spend HOURS chatting over the "fence". Their daughter was Reagan's age when we moved in. She was silly, giggly, and had a crush on Mike (like most girls do ;o) It was an instand bond. Salt of the earth, caring, loving family whom we miss!! They moved away and then moved back but still "away". Geniel has graciously given Reagan's loads and loads of hand-me-downs (which I always LOVE and appreciate) and the kids had fun playing together. Seeing the "kids" all grown up makes you realize just how precious time is and how many years have passed.
After both visits I got into my car and with a happy heart, realized just why people have friends (of any kind). To make you feel important, loved, & respected.

Wheeler Farm with the Wrights




Swimming fun with the Andersons
Arielle & Kade (she would be an awesome babysitter if she lived closer!)


WHen I was younger (heck, probably still), my family called me a leach. I would literally sit in between 2 people on a "2" people couch. I am not sure if it was the human touch I needed or I just did it to be annoying...because that's sometimes how I feel about my OWN daughter!! She definately takes after me in that sense. Always wants to be held or butt in-to someone sitting somewhere. Crawling all over anyone (in this case Alex while he is trying to be left alone but being a good sport about it)


B&N
I'm pretty sure if I ever won a really big lottery, I would buy a Barnes & Noble (or Borders). Heaven is what I would think. We love going to bookstores and walking around, sitting down to read, and just enjoying the smell of coffee and new books. For Reagan's birthday, my mom had given her a gift card to B/N. I have let her go and pick out a book or two each time to let it last. She loves it. I wish I hadn't put my camera deep in the diaper bag at check out time this time around. She said "You stay behind the line mom, I can do it myself because I have my credit card" and up to the cashier she went. I had to point down so the cashier could tell she was there but she proudly reached up on her tippy toes and put the book on the counter. He rang it up, put it in a sack, and gave her the total. She said "Here, take my credit card and I'll sign for it". I was almost ready to cry! No, not because she is 4 and not only knows how to use a "credit" card and thinks that's the concept of buying anything, but because she was showing me just how indepent she is.



AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...our little man turned 6 months old this month. The doctor is sure impressed at what a "big, healthy baby we grew". Kade is 27" long (this is 2 3/4 inches in TWO months). This put him in the 80% for length. He weight 17 lbs and 5 oz (50%) and last but not least a nice BIG round head in the 80%. That comes from daddy. The height might very well be carrying over from my family. He is currently in 9 and 12 month clothes and I just love it. He enjoys sitting up, rolling over, jib-jabbering like crazy, eating of course, chewing the crap out of his fingers (or anything else that is within reach of his mouth) looking at books, watching Max & Ruby with big sis, being tickled on his feet and under the chin, and of course...SMILING! I get numerous compliments a day on how happy and smiley he is. He's an angel and we love him dearly.

August Already

Can it really be? Can my little guy already be SIX months old today?? Where or where has Father Time taken us!
It's been a crazy few weeks here trying to get some of the house packed and in storage, little "to-do's" around the house completed, continually picking up multiple times a day "just in case", trying to spend as much time as possible as a family that we can, and many trips back and forth to our "new" hometown. Weird to hear that. Weird to think it! Reality has arrived.
Mike moved to Idaho Falls today. The store is set to open tomorrow. He has a ton of help from Pro Image and he is 100% stoked at this new opportunity. It's hard to even wrap my brain around but it's done and happening. I had the chance to go up last Thurs and see the store and we looked at several houses. A nice sight to see some light back in Mike's eyes.
I officially stopped working and have become a full time stay-at-home mamma. Although we try not to stay at home much :) Last week was rough though. I cried a lot. Every time I tried to pack I would cry. Every time I would think about work and friends there I would cry. The last day of Reagan & Kade's daycare, Rea's little classmates made her a cute book...and I cried :) It's not all sad tears. They are tears of sadness for closing a chapter in our lives for sure. Bittersweet tears for friends we are leaving and memories that we hold dear to our hearts. Tears of the unknown, but also, tears because I know that this is what was supposed to happen. You never know unless you spread your wings!
Our cute house has been on the market for a month. First few weeks were great in showings...not so much lately. We'll be patient and we'll continue to think happy thoughts. It won't be easy for any of us living in seperate towns but before we know it, we can be reunited again and resume life!

Reagan and I went to Murray Park's Cinderella play last Friday. She loved it. I thought it was a little boring (and I didn't think Cinderella was very pretty). They changed all the songs and characters names other than her of course). We went with our friends Paige and Emily. During an intermission, the princesses all got to go bow before the Queen then try on the glass slipper to make sure it didn't fit. Reagan got the first AWWW of the night as her curtesy was wonderful. She even made a new friend (a 20something year old who Reagan insisted on sitting by/snuggling with).


Saturday, we took her to her very first concert. Mainly to see the country band Lady Antebellum, but they were followed by "the boss Timmie" McGraw. Long story and a long frustrating drive out there (Mike and I promised we would never go there again), but she had a great time and that's all that matters.



Aunt Heidi had given her a camera and she clicked clicked away


Kade remained smiley even though he missed both events